Dashpot mechanism



GGL 2Q, 1931. 0, w ANDERSEN 1,828,383

DASHPOT MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 oct. 2o, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 zzz/[Ill] AO. W. ANDERSEN DASHPOT MEGHANISM Filed May 3, 1929 illltlllllllnl ,ZzvenZzQv/t scarjzense,

Patented ct. 20, l1931 UNITED-,STATES PATE-NT OFFICE i OSCAR w. ANDERSEN, QFIOAKPARK, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR To PETTIBONE MULLIKEN Y oMPANY, or GIIICAGO, ILLINOIS, A coRPoRA'rIoN or DELAWARE nnsIIPoT MEcIIANIsM a, Y i y Y ,d Application med may 3, 1929. serial No. 360,083.

dash-pot mechanism forming the retarding` meansV inspring switch constructions.

It is necessary'in such dash-pot mechanism s that a space be provided into and from which f if the liquid may flow in the operation of the mechanism, it being desirable that this space be provided in a chamber communicating with thecylinder of the dash-pot mechanism. u' l interposed between, and abutting at its ends My primary object is to provide in dashpot mechanism of the character above stated means whereby it is imopssible, in charging the mechanism withl such liquid, to completely ill the chamber referred to and thereby' provide a space of suiicieiit volume to receive the maximum amount of liquid displaced by the mechanism' in its operation.

Referring tothe vaccompanying drawings in which I'have illustrated my invention as incorporatedin Ldash-potmechanism forming the Ietarding vmeans of a 'spring switch:

Figure 1 is a plan view of; such switch mechanism.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section takenVVV at .the line 2 on Fig. 1 and viewed inthev direc- 3in tionof the arrow.

Figure 3 is aiiqenlarged view taken at thel line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewedin the direction` of the arrow; and

Figure 4, a Vfragmentary sectional, view,`

like Fig. 3, of a modification of the construc-v tion. f

Referring tothe particular construction shown, the switch mechanism is of the lsaine construction as that shown in myV pending 4 application for UnitedStates Lettersv Patent Serial No. 271,884, filed April 21,1928, and therefore a general description thereof will suflce.

The switch mechanism vshrnivn comprises ay cylinder 4 forming'one of the elementsA of dash-pot mechanism, `this I cylinder being shown asconnected at its end portion 5 with. a link 6 which in turn is operativelyconnected with point rails 7 and cfa railway/switch, 5" `these rails being connected together by a connecting 'bar 9 to which the link 6 is connected at 10. i

. Slidable lengthwise in the cylinder 4 is a rod 11 connected at its outer end with the crank jarm 12 ofa switchstand 13. In the particular construction shown .the switch# points V'may beset to cooperate with 4either `of the opposing rails ofthe track, such setfting being effected by operating the switchstaiid. vSlidably mounted on the inner end of the rod 11 between abutments 14 and 15 thereon,

are pistons 16 and 17, with a coil spring 18 against, said pistons.

In one set position of the switchstand one of the pistons engages with one end of the cylinder forming a stop therefor and theV other piston isl engaged by the adjacent abutment device, with the spring 18 in compressed conditionr and theswitchpoints set against onevofthe main rrails Vof, the track for holding Vthis 'switch track yieldingly inv such position vThepistons 16 and 15 contain passages 19 and f 20, respectively, controlled by check valves 21 and 22, respectively, and the wall of the cylinder 4 adjacent its ends is longitudinally grooved as represented at 23 and 24, respectively. y

In use the cylinder 4 is charged with liquid such as oil and the dash-pot mechanism thus provided and comprising the cylinder 4 and the pistons 16 and 17 and the rod 11., serves to retard the return of the switchpoints to their normal set positions relative to the railsV which they oppose, when inoved from either of their vtwo set positions. Assuming the settinguofthe mechanism as shown in Figs.` 1 and2, the' trailing of a train from the switch track onto the main track forces the switchpoints in a direction away from the switchf stand, with no, or practically no, resistance by the oil in the cylinder 4 as the oil disfplaced in the cylinder by this movement iiows through the passage 19, the check valve Y 21 automatically opening. The return of the -ward the switchstand, the oil freely passing through the passage 20 in the Vpiston 17, but upon the return movement of theI switchpoints to the set position last referred to,

under the action of the spring 18, is required `to pass around the piston 17 through the re-V stricted passage at this end of the cylinder thereby effecting the desired retarding action.`

The dash-pot mechanism shown comprises, in addition to the cylinder 4 for the oil, a chamber 25'in communication at 26 with the interior of the cylinder 4 the purposeV of which is to ensure maintenance of the cyline der 4 completely filled with oil at all times, the oi-l, in accordance with my invention, andcharged into the apparatus, only partially filling the chamber 25to provide a space at the upper portion of this chamber of such size that the maximum amount of oil displaced "from the cylinder 4 into the chamber 25, Vin

the operation of the dash-pot mechanism, may be received into this chamber. In accordance with the disclosure in Figs. 1, 2 andA 3, the chamber 25 is provided with a vertical filler opening 27 shown as closed by a removable plug 28 through which the oil tol be introduced into the cylinder 4 is poured. Communication between the chamber 25 and the interior of the cylinder 4 is preferably afforded through the plug 28 which contains the passage 2G opening into 'a cross passage 29 in the plug, the inner end of the plug preferably extending into an opening 3() in the bottom wall of the chamber 25 and in line with the opening 27.

`To ensure against the complete filling of the chamber 25 with oil, for the'purpose above A stated. the wall represented at 31 and surrounding the opening 27 is formed to depend below the underside ofthe chamber 25, as

upper portion of the chamber 25 and through i which the opening 27 extends. 'By providing the depending wall just referred to about the opening 27, the oil charge-d into the apparatus in the filling operation will not rise in the chamber 25 above the level of the lower surface of the wall 31 thereby ensuring a space, filled with air, between the upper level of the oilY and theA top of the chamber' 25, this space being of suiiicient volume to receive the maximum amount of oil displaced into the chamber 25v rin the operation of the mechamsm. v

The modified construction shown in Fig. 4 is the same as that of the preceding figures except that, instead of providing the plug 28 as shown therein, a short plug represented at 32 is provided and interposed between this plug. and the top wall of the cylinder 4 is a removable and replaceable tubular member 33 which seats at its lower end in an annular recess 34in the wall of the opening 30 and extends. at its upper end into the opening 27. The side-wall of the member 33 is perforated .as represented and contains a cup-shaped screen 35` reaching short of the bottom surface of the chamber 25.

The screenY 35 servesv to prevent lint, or other particles, in the oil supplied to the mechanism from `entering the cylinder 4, while the perforations in the member33 af ford passages through which the oil may sufiiciently freely flow from cylinder 4 to chamber 25, and vice versa, in the operation of the mechanism. Y

While I have illustrated and described certain lparticular constructions embodying my invention I do not wish tobe' understood as' intending to limit itA thereto as the same may be variously-modified and altered without` departing from the spirit of my invention.

TWhat I-regard as new, and desire'to secure by Letters4 Patent, is:

1. A cylinder device for the purpose set forth, comprising a chamber containing an opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber having a ller-opening in its top', a tubular member interposed in the space between said openings and having an opening in its side in communication with said chamber and cylinder, and a screen associated with said member and extending opening.

2. A cylinder device for the purpose set forth, comprising a chamber containing an opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber having a filler-opening in its top, a tubular member interposed in the space between said openings. and having an lopening in its side in communication with said chamber and cylinder, and, a screen'in said tubular member and extending above lsaid first-named openmg. Y Y

3. A cylinder device for thepurpose set forth,^comprising a chamber containing an above said first-named opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber having a filler-opening in its top, a tubular member interposed in the space between said openings and a screen associated with said member and extending at its lower portion between said openings, the sides of said member being apertured between said openings both above and below the lower portion of said screen.

4. A cylinder device for the purpose set forth, comprising a chamber containing an opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber having a filler-opening in its, top, a tubular member interposed in the space between the said openings and having an opening in itsside in communication with said chamber and cylinder, and a plug in said filler opening.

5. A cylinder device for thepurpose set forth, comprising a chamber containing an opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber having a filler-opening in its` top, a tubular member interposed in the space between said openings and having an opening Vin its side in communication with said chamber and cylinder, a screen associated with said member and extending above said first-named opening, and a plug in said filler opening. Y

6. A cylinder device for thepurpose set forth, comprising a chamber containing an r opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber .i

having a filler-opening in its top, a tubular member interposed in the space between said openings and having an opening in its side in communication with said chamber an-d cylinder, and a cup-shaped screen located in said member and extending above said Vlirstnamed opening.

7 A cylinder device for the purpose set forth, comprising a chamber containing anV opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber having a filler-'opening in its top, a tubular member interposed in the spacebetween said openings and having an opening in its side in communication with said chamber and cyl' inder, a cup-shaped screen located in said member and extending above said first-named opening, and a plug in said filler opening.

8. A cylinder device for the purpose set forth, comprising a chamber containingan opening through which it communicates with the interior of the cylinder, said chamber having a filler-opening in its top, a tubular member interposed in the space between said openings and a cup-shaped screen associated with said member and extending at' its lower portion between said openings, the sides of said member being apertured betweenv said openings both above and below the lower portion of said screen.

' OSCAR W. ANDERSEN. 

